'20-Year Sentence Reflects The Seriousness Of The Crimes For Which Burbridge Was Convicted:' Glasgow Declares

(The following edited press release is from Kelly O'Brien of the Will County State's Attorney's Office.)

JOLIET, IL — Will County State's Attorney James W. Glasgow announces that Donovan DeWayne Burbridge of Kankakee has been sentenced to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for attempted first degree murder, a Class X felony, and aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony.

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Burbridge, at age just 15 years old, was sent to Joliet from Kankakee, and he went on to commit more crimes inside Joliet's River Valley Youth Detention Center off McDonough Street across the street from the Inwood Golf Course.

"This was a violent and deliberate attack, and the 20-year sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes for which Burbridge was convicted," Glasgow declared. "Our office is committed to safeguarding human life by safeguarding by holding defendants accountable for their actions and ensuring that cases involving violent offenses are thoroughly investigated and vigorously prosecuted. This sentence is the result of the collaborative efforts of the prosecution team, law enforcement, and everyone who worked to bring this case to a fair and just resolution."

Glasgow again thanked Assistant State's Attorneys Adam M. Capelli and Wiktoria Oginski, Victim Witness Advocates Dannette Pasdertz and Emma Rannels, Information
Systems Support Specialist Braulio Guzman, as well as the River Valley Detention Center staff and the Joliet Police Department for their dedication to this case.

Burbridge was found guilty by a jury following a 3-day jury trial before Circuit Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak that concluded on June 10.

On March 24, 2024, while at Joliet's River Valley Juvenile Detention Center, Burbridge threw repeated rapid punches at the victim. Burbridge stomped on the victim's head and kicked
him repeatedly and violently as he lay defenseless on the ground. The savage attack has left Burbridge's teenage victim in a nonverbal state, requiring assistance with feeding and leaving him unable to swallow.

Burbridge was sentenced to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He is required to serve 85 percent of his sentence with three years of mandatory supervised release. He
will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years.